It is clear that the development of numerous sporting disciplines are being pushed towards a new dimension where the girls have been aiming for some time.We are all aware of the involvement of women in hockey, netball, basketball, football, track and field, swimming and martial arts.Funnily enough, it is only the disciplines of netball, football, hockey, cricket and track and field which have brought proven international recognition to the twin island state.
Surely some of the others have been short of their achieved goals, simply because the well exposed disciplines have not made much impact.This is why I salute, the rugby, cricket, and track and field athletes for their hard work and ultimate success.There is no doubt that we have started much later than the larger countries to prepare physically for the various sporting events.
Those of us who follow sport closely would have observed the reasons why it has taken so long to match strides effectively and successfully with opponents from the countries who have thrown their hats into the world ring of sports.The dominance of countries like USA, Canada, Australia and Russia, could have been recognised by the level of physical education which preceded their elevation in almost any sporting disciplines.
Unfortunately, the British had not brought our women to deviate swiftly towards the initial practice of ballet, music and dance, and produced excellent voices by forming choirs across the land.Our third world behaviour sometimes leads us into believing that participation is the target as opposed to taking the results to a higher level against the world class athletes and competition.
However, I admit that efforts have been made by these sporting disciplines to seek the avenues which are pathways to international success.Cricket may well have made greater strides in the region, and already they are matching strides with the more experienced countries.I have to point out the lethargy of progress which was made by our netball girls, knowing that as far back as 1979 T&T was crowned joint champions with Australia and New Zealand.
With the exciting jumpstart which brought us sharply to the top, there is little to show that progress over the last few years.Make no mistake about it, Lystra Lewis, Jean Pierre and skipper Cheryl Peters found a way to transform some young women into competent athletes whose skills and speed came close to being the best team in the world.
I suppose that we could admit that the developmental process has been either neglected for a while, or the new talents on the block do not understand or evaluate the methodology which must be put into place in order to move forward in a similar fashion that emulates the teams of the 1970s and 1980s.The recent failure to make any impression at two tournaments in Europe in preparation for the world championships later this year leaves us to believe that rising from number eight sport in the rating will take some doing.
Out of nine matches played in these tournaments, T&T lost eight and won the other.These stats would not be viewed as progressive or productive, although some will take a close look at the scores of the matches and make a case of improved performances during the tournament.No one hails a loser theoretically, except that lessons learnt from defeat tends to assist the losers in becoming aware of mistakes, technically and skillfully.
Our natural talents have often been the recipients of victories from time to time, but not hardly ever stretch our performance levels into statistical success.Each sporting association seeks financial support with the expectation of gaining good results to prove their worth, but few re-prepared to seek the requirements of athleticism, strength training and positive aggression which would account for a better-equipped brand of netballer.
It has happened once under the Lystra Lewis era and it was interesting how these girls conducted some innovated, novel ideas to move ahead.I distinctly recall these girls asking a group of former men national footballers to compete against them so that they will be faced with excessive speed, higher endurance levels, and even if they were not as skillful in scoring points, the other feature of their contribution gave the girls "a run for their money."
Maybe today's players can put heads together and come up with formulas to improve the quality of the game.Surely we expect to be much higher in the rating by the end of the world championships. It is not always moving around the world with expensive ventures which guarantee improvement.
Actually, a very intense physical programme, plus constant repetition of defensive and attacking patterns could help bring about progress.We look forward to the August tournament and hope that we could show our worth to the world.